Interview with Andrea Piccinno – A Mechanical Engineer with Forward-Thinking Ideas

Exoskeletons are becoming increasingly important in the medical field – whether in rehabilitation, mobility support, or the treatment of neurological conditions. One of the key requirements for these high-tech aids is that they are easy, safe, and comfortable to use. This is where FIDLOCK fasteners come into play: thanks to their unique combination of magnetic and mechanical snap technology, they allow for intuitive, one-handed opening and closing – even for users with limited mobility. Their reliable locking mechanism, high load capacity, and ease of use make FIDLOCK the ideal solution for exoskeletons in medical environments.
 

Can you briefly tell us about yourself and how you came up with the idea to build an exoskeleton?

My name is Andrea and I’m a 34yo mechanical engineer from Italy. I’ve been fascinated with exoskeletons since my youth but at that time and in the place where I grew up, they were rather a fantasy. Then during my studies and my first years of work I started to see these products coming out on the market so I decided to go deeper in the topic that was becoming a reality and tried to prototype one at home with my 3D printers.

What inspired you to integrate innovative solutions like FIDLOCK into your project?

Ergonomics and wearability are one of the main topics when comes to exoskeletons and orthosis. I speak with many people using standard orthosis and begin extremely unhappy because of their ergonomics and difficulty in wearability. FIDLOCK solutions come of huge help in the wearability area since they provide any type of solution for a quick and effective locking in pretty much all exo-body interface.

What is the main goal of your exoskeleton project? For which applications or target groups are you developing it?

I want to have a fully body wearable device that bears some of the user weight and unloads it to the ground, not just redirects it to other areas of the body. This said, applications can be many, from industry, to healthcare, to sport, to private use. I envision these devices as part of anyone life in the future, available for whatever need is required.

Which FIDLOCK products have you incorporated into your exoskeleton based on our recommendation, and what roles do they play?

So far I’m using:
•    HOOK – Quickly attachment for the the bicep straps of the exo to the body
•    WINCH – Lock foot straps to the user shoes and applies tension to keep the shoe in position. This is the most important area since it guarantees proper unload of weight to the ground.
•    SNAP – the solution for which I’m the most satisfied since it solved a huge problem of attachment of the hands to the exo. I can apply this lock to a pair of gloves or straps to be wear separately and once I put on the exo I can simply attach to it by contact. I find this a truly amazing solution since their will stay in place even under load.

Is there a specific component you particularly value because it improved your design or opened up new possibilities?

As mentioned before, I am fascinated by all of the FIDLOCK solutions, but for my specific case the family I would recommend the most are the SNAP ones.
In your opinion, how have the FIDLOCK components contributed to the usability of your exoskeleton?
They reduced drastically the wearing time of my exo as now I can wear the whole in less than 1 minute without any help. This is a often neglected feature but very valuable from my point of view since it creates a very nice use experience.

 

What feedback have you received from your followers about the FIDLOCK components?

Most of my community was very excited in seeing such solutions. Some of them already knew the products some no and got very curious asking me details about where to get them and what specs would they have.

Do you see further potential to integrate FIDLOCK products into future projects?

Definitely yes. After such experience I told myself I would keep using FIDLOCK components in my whole build. I think there will be further iterations of the exoskeleton till it becomes a market product but I’ll for sure keep using FIDLOCK as solutions for all the body interfaces.

How do you see the future of exoskeletons in industry, medicine, or even everyday life?

I think exoskeletons will be part of our lives in future, same as it happens for many devices without whose we couldn’t imagine ourselves today. I want them to be a product available for anyone who might want one, not just a specific niece.

Are you planning to further develop your exoskeleton or make it accessible to a broader audience?

Yes, I open sourced the previous designs of my exo while I want this last one to become a market product and I’m on my way to do that with many collaborations I’ve developed throughout these years.

What impressed you the most about FIDLOCK components after we presented the possibilities to you?

The range of products available. Basically, there is a solution for every need and size, even more than one could imagine.

How would you describe your collaboration with FIDLOCK?

So far one of the best collaborations I’ve had. Apart from the quality of the products, the support and communication are amazing and I think this is a crucial point in any partnership.

What is your next big project or goal?

My main project will still stay the exo for which I have the goal of turning it into a commercial product. I’m on my way to build a Startup out of it. I know the path is not easy but it’s a dream I want to chase.